The WE campaign with over 2.5 million signatures supports the Position Statement of Australian Iranian Community Alliance on Senator Claire Chandler’s Urgency Motion in the Senate – 8th October 2024

Position Statement of Australian Iranian Community Alliance on Senator Claire Chandler’s Urgency Motion in the Senate – 8th October 2024

- The Australian Government’s Inaction on the IRGC and Its Shift to Empty Justifications

On October 8, 2024, Senator Claire Chandler presented an urgency motion in the Senate, calling for the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and for Iran's Ambassador to Australia to be declared persona non grata.
This motion reflects a growing concern over the IRGC's extensive involvement in global terrorism, espionage, and human rights abuses, and it is a critical step towards aligning Australia's policies with its allies. We firmly support this motion and view it as a necessary and overdue action to protect Australia's national security and uphold its international responsibilities..

- Legal and Legislative Barriers: 
An Outdated Excuse

For years, the Australian government’s reluctance to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization has rested on legal arguments. Officials claimed that the IRGC, as part of a nation-state’s military, could not be listed under Australia’s Criminal Code due to its status as an arm of the Iranian state.
However, this reasoning falls apart under scrutiny, particularly as other democracies with similar legal systems—like the United States and Canada—have already designated the IRGC as a terrorist entity. 
These nations adjusted their laws and policies to reflect the IRGC’s actions, which extend far beyond conventional military activity into global terrorism, espionage, and human rights abuses.
The notion that legal and legislative constraints are insurmountable has become a hollow defence. 
Internationally, governments have found ways to overcome such obstacles, yet the Australian government seems unwilling to follow suit. The reality is that reforming the Criminal Code to address the IRGC’s threat is both possible and necessary. Instead of pursuing this, the Albanese government continues to stall, leaving Australia vulnerable to IRGC-linked activities.

- Shifting Excuses: From Legislation to "Australia’s Best Interests"

In a troubling shift, the government has moved away from legal explanations and now hides behind a vague and nebulous justification—claiming that listing the IRGC is not in “Australia’s best interests.” This terminology is a diplomatic smokescreen, devoid of clear meaning, definition, or substance. What exactly constitutes “Australia’s best interests” in this context? The term is an ambiguous catch-all that could be used to justify any form of inaction. It suggests that maintaining diplomatic ties with Iran is more valuable than protecting Australia’s national security and citizens.
This excuse is not only weak but also dangerously misleading. By avoiding concrete action, the Australian government is signalling that it values maintaining relations with the Islamic Republic in Iran—an oppressive regime with a track record of brutality, terrorism, and interference in other nations—over its responsibility to safeguard Australian citizens from international terrorism. The government’s rhetoric is merely political fluff, masking a lack of political will and a failure to stand up to the IRGC’s documented global activities.

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